Notes of Faith July 21, 2022

Indescribable: The Scoop on Skin and A Hairy Situation

The Scoop on Skin

He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you can hide. His truth will be your shield and protection. — Psalm 91:4 NCV

There’s a lot more to your skin than meets the eye.

First of all, your skin is actually an organ — just like your heart, lungs, and kidneys. In fact, it’s the largest organ of your entire body. The average-sized person has 22 square feet of skin! That’s about the size of a small blanket. Skin comes in all different colors — all created by God using a pigment called melanin. Think of melanin like an artist would think about paint. The more melanin you have, the darker your skin. The less you have, the paler your skin.

Skin not only covers your bones and muscles, it also senses the environment around you and helps control your body’s temperature. Your skin sweats to cool you off when you get hot, and it closes up its pores to keep in the heat (think of goose bumps!) when you’re cold. But one of your skin’s most important jobs is to protect the rest of your body from injury and disease. It’s like a shield for your body.

And while your skin is the shield for your body, God is the shield for your heart, mind, spirit, and body. It’s easy to be afraid and anxious about the bad things that could happen in the world. But the Bible is filled with God’s promises to watch over and protect you, like this promise God gave in Psalm 18:30:

The Lord’s words are pure. He is a shield to those who trust Him.

And this one:

He is our help, our shield to protect us. — Psalm 33:20

And:

The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust Him, and He helps me. — Psalm 28:7

The list could go on and on. So when you’re scared or feeling threatened, run to God, and He’ll be your shield!

God, You are my rock, my protection, my Savior, and my shield. When times get tough, I’m so thankful You surround me and keep me safe.

Be Amazed

Here are some weird skin facts: Underneath all its fur, a polar bear’s skin is black. A rhinoceros’s skin can be almost 2 inches thick. And frogs? Their skin is really unique. Instead of drinking water through their mouths, they actually soak it in through their skin!

The Bible is filled with God's promises

A Hairy Situation

When five sparrows are sold, they cost only two pennies. But God does not forget any of them. Yes, God even knows how many hairs you have on your head. Don’t be afraid. You are worth much more than many sparrows. — Luke 12:6-7

Hair — it’s everywhere!

It’s on your head and on your skin. It makes up your eyebrows and your eyelashes. It even grows in your ears and in your nose! In fact, the only places hair doesn’t grow are on the palms of your hands, the bottoms of your feet, and your lips. Hair isn’t just for looks either. It has a purpose. The hair on your head helps keep you warm. Eyelashes keep dust and dirt out of your eyes, while eyebrows help keep the sweat and rain away — not to mention helping you look shocked and surprised! And those nose and ear hairs help keep germs, pollen, and other bits of stuff out of your body.

Hair grows out of a special organ under your skin called a follicle. The average person has 100,000 follicles on his head — and more than 5 million on the entire body. That’s a lot of hair! And

God knows each and every hair in each and every follicle! You might not be able to count them all, but He can. The Bible tells you so.

When you’re going through a tough time, especially if it’s a long, tough time, you may start to feel that God has forgotten you. But that’s not true. God could never forget you. Jesus said God knows what happens to every tiny bird in His world. And He loves you a lot more than any bird! When tough times come, God doesn’t forget you, and you’re not alone. God is always with you, even though you may not see it. Remember, the God who knows every hair on your head also knows exactly how to take care of you.

Lord, You know everything that happens in my life — even how many hairs are on my head! So I’ll always trust You to do what’s best for me.

Excerpted from Indescribable by Louie Giglio, copyright Louie Giglio.

If God knows how many hairs are on my head and I do not…maybe He knows more about me than I know myself and will care for me much better than I could ever care for myself. Praise God for His wonder and care!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith July 20, 2022

Av is the fifth month of the Hebrew calendar, and usually falls in the months of July and August on the Gregorian calendar. Tisha B'Av — also known as the 9th of Av — is what the Jews would consider "a date that lives in infamy."

According to Jewish scholars, on the 9th of Av the following historic catastrophes occurred:

Ten Jewish spies returned from the Promised Land with a bad report (leading the people to lose heart and be consigned to wander in the wilderness for 40 years).

The First and the Second temples were destroyed.

The Battle of Betar was lost (the Jewish rebellion under Simon bar Kochba was crushed and the remaining rebels were annihilated).

The Romans plowed the Temple Mount — in fulfillment of the prophecy of Micah 3:11-12.

Jews were expelled from England (in 1290 AD).

Jews were expelled from Spain (in 1492 — the same year Columbus "sailed the ocean blue").

Both World Wars in the 20th Century began — unleashing horrific tragedy upon the Jewish people.

Given all the sadness tied to this day, it is long been recognized as a Jewish day of mourning. But even as they commemorate tremendous suffering, the Jewish people also demonstrate a resilience that has inspired believers and objective skeptics alike. Asked by King Louis XIV of France to provide proof of God's existence, Blaine Pascal responded, "Why the Jews, Your Majesty, the Jews!" (The same statement is ascribed to insightful individuals in England and Russia.) The point is that in spite of their suffering, the Jews are still here. Their very presence proves that God's promises are "Yes and Amen" (2 Corinthians 1:20).

And, although Satan was the instigator of all those historic tragedies, God repeatedly turned ashes into beauty for the Jewish people. He did that through Joseph's life. He did it again through Ruth. He will do it again when yet another threatened catastrophe will lead the Jewish people to cry out, "Baruch haba b'shem Adonai" — Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the LORD. That prophecy points forward to a time that will lead up to Jesus' glorious Second Coming, His establishment of the Millennial Kingdom, and His reign from David's throne on Mount Zion in Jerusalem.

The Cross represents another historic catastrophe. Following Jesus' death, His disciples despaired. When the Shepherd was arrested and then struck down, they scattered — just as He had foretold. Peter had denied Him three times, in spite of his own vehement profession of allegiance. The death of God's own Son seemed to represent an unprecedented victory for Satan and unmitigated disaster for the people of God. And yet...

And yet, God turned that tragedy into the greatest victory in human history. The disgrace of the Cross became our freedom from sin. The humiliation of Christ's shameful death became the Good News that we call the Gospel — because it provides the salvation of God to all who believe.

The 9th of Av will fall on August 5th this year. Jewish people will spend the day reflecting and mourning. The Christian sacrament of Communion offers us a regular opportunity to reflect and mourn — but our mourning is surmounted by the joy we have in knowing that Jesus lives.

Death could not hold Him. The tomb could not keep Him. Satan could not lock Him away.

When Jesus stood in the synagogue in Nazareth, He read verse 1 and the first half of verse 2 from Isaiah 61:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent ME to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable year of the LORD...

Jesus stopped reading at that point, sat down, and said to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing" (Luke 4:16-21). At that moment, the rest of verse 2 and all of verse 3 still awaited fulfillment:

…and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes; the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

If you are close to a Jew on the 9th of Av, mourn with them on that day of sadness as a good friend should. And then take the opportunity to tell them about the Good News that turns ashes into beauty, mourning into joy, and despair into praise. That is the power of the Gospel.

All people in the world need to hear the glorious gospel. Jesus is the only One who brings God’s grace and mercy and love and peace. If you are blessed to be near a Jew on the 9th of Av, the 5th of August, pray with them about the sovereignty of God, His faithfulness, His love for the nation He created. Jesus will draw them to Himself in His time…all who belong to Him will come. Pray, pray, pray, for the world is in desperate need of a Savior.

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith July 19, 2022

Determined

Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you. — 2 Chronicles 20:17

In this journey of life, you will want to quit. There comes a time in everyone’s life when they just want to lie down and stop. What separates those who falter and fail from those who experience victory is their ability to get back up. There are so many battles that are won by simply outlasting the enemy.

We will all get knocked down. You can’t stop that, but it is up to you whether you get back up.

Determine to persevere in faith — even when you don’t feel strong. Your feelings will limit you because you don’t actually know what you are capable of until you show yourself. As we stand firm, our Lord fights for us. It will be hard. When did we start imagining there could be a victory without a battle? Is there a battle that you keep drawing back from? Is there spiritual ground that you have backed off of? God is calling you back into position. He who promised you is faithful. God is strong and He wants you strong. He will reveal His strength to you so He can reveal His strength through you.

When you are tired, when you want to stop, remember what He says in

2 Chronicles 20:17:

You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.

I am strong

The Lord fights for us. Sometimes the victory comes if we just keep showing up. We win as we keep loving, keep giving, keep serving, and keep learning. Other battles are won in song. When we sing the Word of God we are singing a sword of the Spirit. When we pray His promises we are singing a prayer. Some battles are won in silence and surrender to Him. We are so confident that God is good and does good that we just smile confidently, knowing that He has it. When we go out in His strength, we can face anything that life throws at us — discouragement, exhaustion, or outright opposition. We are told,

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. — Isaiah 41:10

Almighty God, I will stand in Your faithfulness as You fight for me. I choose determination and perseverance each and every day, until the battle is won.

I AM STRONG when I stand, confident that the Lord my God is fighting for me.

Excerpted from Strong by Lisa Bevere, copyright Lisa Bevere.

I have power that you can’t see

God is living inside of me

I can fight any enemy

‘Cause God and I make a majority!

Gaither Vocal Band

Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world! 1 John 4:4

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith July 18, 2022

Abraham

God promised Abraham would father many nations; he believed and obeyed. ~ Wendy Blight

Genesis 15

Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.

— Genesis 15:6

God met Abram at a time when he was doubting God’s promises. God saw Abram, came to him, and spoke great encouragement.

Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward. — Genesis 15:1

In his old age, Abram focused on the physical: what his eyes could see and what his mind could comprehend. God promised to make him into a great nation, but he had no children. God graciously reassured Abram that a son was coming.

He told Abram to look to the heavens and count the stars and said,

So shall your offspring be. — Genesis 15:5

Without any change of circumstances, Scripture says Abram believed the Lord. He believed God would do what He said He would do. That is faith. And God responded to Abram’s faith by crediting righteousness, right standing with God, as his reward.

Righteousness is an important word for us since it is said that we are counted righteous for believing in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 4:6-24; Romans 4:5:19; Romans 4:10). In both Greek and Hebrew, the word is full of meaning. Part of its meaning is doing what is right — that is, obedience to God, and doing justice in the world. The second part of its meaning, and just as important, is the connotation of having a legal right standing before a judge. Both of these meanings are inseparable from each other in the biblical sense of the word.

As with Noah, righteousness — or right standing with God — did not mean Abram was a sinless person. He simply trusted the Lord.

Read Romans 4:4-5. God’s Word says this same situation applies to all men and women who trust in the Lord. Describe what it means for you to place your trust in the Lord.

Reread Romans 4:4-5 and meditate on its meaning, jotting down your thoughts.

God’s ways have not changed over these thousands of years. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Trusting God at His Word… trusting His promises… will lead us to righteousness. The key is faith. Abram was renamed “Abraham” by God because of Abram’s faith to believe that God would make him the father of many nations (Genesis 17:5).

Faith doesn’t mean we never doubt or have questions.

In fact, Abraham immediately began asking God how the things He spoke of were possible (Genesis 15:8) and even laughed at other things God promised (Genesis 17:17). Have you ever doubted God, or asked God why difficult things happen? How were your questions or doubts answered?

God’s promises are eternal and unchangeable. They will not fail because God cannot fail.

We can believe the enemy or we can believe God.

We can succumb to lies or stand on Truth. In the garden, Adam and Eve chose to believe the lies of the enemy. Noah and Abram (Abraham), on the other hand, chose to believe the truths of God. Though, let us not forget, Noah and Abraham were not perfect. The times Noah and Abraham failed to follow God and misplaced their longings, God sent harsh consequences as a result.

Choosing lies and self-satisfaction leads to negative consequences. Choosing truth and humility leads to blessings and fulfillment. Why? Because when we choose to believe lies, we fall into the hands of the enemy. We hear the devil’s voice instead of God’s, so he determines who we are, our path, even our destiny.

Believed God will do what He said He would do. That is faith.

When we trust ourselves, or others, over God, we risk moving so far from God that we forget His heart. His goodness. His love. We forget God’s commands are good. His purposes are good. He is good.

Trusting in and obeying God’s Word is where we find our true and lasting significance, satisfaction, and security.

Abraham lived this well. God had promised to make him into a great nation, yet Abraham found himself without children. How could God’s promise come to fruition with no heirs? Was God truly trustworthy?

Abraham cried out to God in discouragement. God came to Abraham and graciously reassured him a son was coming. He reminded Abraham of His promises. Scripture says Abraham believed the Lord… without any visible proof… without Sarah being pregnant. Abraham took God at His Word. He believed God would do what He said He would do.

This, my friend, is the essence of faith. God’s ways have not changed. God’s promises and purposes are eternal and unchangeable. They will not fail because God cannot fail. When the lies of the enemy — fear, doubt, anxiety, unbelief, discouragement — rush in, we must immediately take those thoughts captive. Captive to the Truth of God’s Word. The Truth of who we are as children of the One True God.

Read aloud the truth of who you are in Christ.

You are Loved. 1 John 3:1

You are Forgiven. 1 John 1:9

You are Redeemed. Ephesians 1:7

You are A New Creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17

You are Holy. Hebrews 10:10

You are Set Apart. Romans 8:30-39

You are A Temple of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 3:6:19-20

You are Made with Purpose. 1 Peter 2:9; 1 Peter 4:10

Now, pray and declare these truths over your heart and mind.

Abba Father, my Creator,

I praise You that I’m fearfully and wonderfully made. Thank You that I am forgiven and redeemed by the blood of Your Son, Jesus. Thank You that in and through the power of Your Holy Spirit, I am a new creation. Because of Your grace and mercy, I am Your hand-crafted masterpiece and You have good and perfect purposes for me.

Please grant me wisdom and discernment as I walk out that plan. Help me to discover who You’ve created me to be. Expose the lies of the enemy. Wash away anything You have not authored for my life. Protect me from the devil’s schemes. Give me eyes to see myself, not in the world’s eyes, but in Your eyes. Father, may I know deep in my heart that I am holy, created in Your image and set apart for Your purposes. Open my eyes to see my true beauty, a beauty that reflects Your heart, Your character, Your strength and Your dignity. Plant Your Truths deep in my heart. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and bless me all the days of my life.

I ask all this in the name of Your Son, Jesus. Amen.

Excerpted from 40 Days Through the Bible by Lysa TerKeurst and the Proverbs 31 Ministries Team, copyright Lysa TerKeurst and Proverbs 31 Ministries Team.

Great way to start the day. Be blessed whenever you happen to read this and share it with friends and family.

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith July 17, 2022

We are hosting a Red Cross Blood drive on Tuesday July 26 and still need volunteers to sign up to save lives! Please give if you are able. Make an appointment at www.redcrossblood.org and look for Community Grace Brethren Church, 5885 Downey Ave. Long Beach, on Tuesday the 26th!

Struggle and Chaos

Today's inspiration comes from:

God is With You Every Day

by Max Lucado

Struggle

He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” — Matthew 26:39

We all struggle. But did you ever think that perhaps God may be using your struggles to change you? To shape you? Even to heal you? For two years I have been asking God to remove the pain in my writing hand. Even as I write these words, I feel stiffness in my thumb, fingers, forearm, and shoulder. The doctors chalk it up to thirty-plus books written in longhand. Over the decades the repeated motion has restricted my movement, rendering the simplest of tasks — writing a sentence on a sheet of paper — difficult.

So I do my part. I stretch my fingers. A therapist massages the muscles. I avoid the golf course. I even go to yoga! But most of all I pray. Better said, I argue.

Shouldn’t God heal my hand? My pen is my tool. Writing is my assignment. So far He hasn’t healed me.

Or has He? These days I pray more as I write. Not eloquent prayers but honest ones. Lord, I need help… Father, my hand is stiff. The discomfort humbles me. I’m not Max, the author. I am Max, the guy whose hand is wearing out. I want God to heal my hand. Thus far He has used my hand to heal my heart.

So that thing you’re struggling with, that you’ve prayed about over and over and over again… could it be that God is using it to heal your heart?

Put the problem in the hands of the One who can solve it

Chaos

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. — 1 Peter 5:7 NIV

Imagine this scene. It is breakfast time, and the family is in chaos. The daughters are complaining about their brother who took too much time in the bathroom. As a result their hair isn’t brushed and makeup isn’t applied. Mom is doing her best to manage the conflict, but she woke up with a headache and a long list of things to do. The clock is ticking like a time bomb, ever closer to that moment when, boom! It’s time to go. Dad stops at the kitchen entryway and surveys the pandemonium. He weighs his options:

Command everyone to shape up and behave.

Berate his son for dominating the bathroom, his daughters for poor planning, and his wife for not taking control.

Sneak out before anyone notices.

Or he could turn to God with a simple prayer: Father, You are good. I need help. Reduce the frenzy in my house, please. Will the prayer change everything? It may. Or it may take another prayer, or two, or ten. But at least the problem will be in the hands of the One who can solve it.

Excerpted from God Is With You Every Day by Max Lucado, copyright Max Lucado.

Give everything to God. Live your life with the One who can and will solve your every chaotic moment.

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith July 16, 2022

Notes of Faith July 16, 2022

Borders Between Words

The borders between words like knowledge and wisdom and understanding are not like walls, not like fences that are real nice and clear and precise, with one field on one side and one field on the other. They’re more like the space where the fresh water of a river flows into the salt sea. You can’t draw a line between fresh water and salt water, but everybody knows there’s a huge difference between fresh water and salt water.

Words that refer to processes of knowing and words that refer to processes of feeling are inevitably more flexible and more imprecise than words that refer to objects, like dog or daffodil or peach. Acts of knowing and feeling are not like a dog or a daffodil or a peach. You can’t see them; you can’t touch them; you can’t hear them; you can’t smell them; you can’t draw them. How would you draw wisdom? How would you draw understanding? You can’t point to them with your finger; they’re a peculiar kind of reality. And so, when language tries to capture them or give expression to that peculiar kind of reality, we have to leave room for some overlap in meaning. So, that’s a preface to how difficult it is sometimes to do what Kyle is asking me to do.

Knowledge, Wisdom, Understanding

Colossians 1:9–10 says,

From the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge [that’s the first word, epignōsis in Greek] of his will in all spiritual wisdom [second word, sophia] and understanding [synesis, sometimes translated ‘insight’], so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God [same word, epignōsis].

So, Paul starts by praying that they would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, and he ends that prayer by praying that they would go on increasing in the knowledge of God himself.

“Knowing God increasingly and knowing God’s will increasingly are part of the same experience of knowing.”

I think in Paul’s mind, knowing God increasingly and knowing God’s will increasingly are part of the same experience of knowing, because to know somebody, when you think about it, is to know what they love, know what they hate, know what they desire, know what they will. That’s what it means to know them.

Knowing Versus Knowing

But to really grasp what Paul means by knowing God, which I think we must do here at the outset, it helps to look at Romans 1:18–23, where Paul talks about people who are outside Christ and yet have some kind of knowing of God. It says,

By their unrighteousness [they] suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So, they are without excuse. For [this is the amazing part] although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him.

It’s an amazing statement: “although they knew God” — every human being outside Christ. So, there is a kind of knowing God that is absolutely useless — indeed, worse than useless. It makes you guilty. It takes away your excuse. This is not the kind of knowing God or knowing his will that Paul is praying for in Colossians 1:9. That’s not what he’s praying for. So, the question is, What’s missing? What’s the difference between the knowing God and knowing his will that he’s praying for and the knowing that will only get you damned?

What’s missing is precisely what Paul is praying for in Colossians 1:9 — namely, that we would come to know God and know his will in or by spiritual wisdom and spiritual understanding. The word spiritual modifies both of those nouns — “spiritual wisdom and spiritual understanding.” The key word is spiritual, which in Paul’s language refers to something that is given by and formed by the Holy Spirit. It’s not just a vague feeling of mysticism or something like that. It’s a Holy Spirit–given, a Holy Spirit–shaped wisdom and understanding.

So, what needs to happen so that the man of Romans 1 knows God — the way Paul is praying for us to know God and his will in Colossians 1:9 — is for the Holy Spirit to take away his blindness to the greatness and the beauty and worth of God. And we can watch this happen in 2 Corinthians 4:6, where Paul says, “God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” So, the formerly blind man of Romans 1 now sees God as glorious. A few verses earlier, in 2 Corinthians 3:18, Paul had said in describing this very miracle, “This comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

So, this miracle of seeing God for what he really is, is what Paul means in Colossians 1:9 by “spiritual insight” or “spiritual understanding.” When the Holy Spirit removes our blindness, we don’t just know God as Romans 1 knows God — disapproving, suppressing. We know him as glorious, as infinitely valuable, as worthy of all our allegiance and trust and love. This is spiritual understanding to know him like that.

Harmonious Wisdom

Now, to stir in the word wisdom — and specifically “spiritual wisdom” — from Colossians 1:9, let’s go back to Romans 1, because Paul does just that; he stirs in the word wisdom.

He’s been describing the unbelieving person as knowing God and yet suppressing that knowledge and failing to thank God and glorify him, and now he describes the same failure in terms of foolishness and pretended wisdom. He says, “They became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools.” And then they do something that tells you what wisdom is all about: “[They] exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man” (Romans 1:21–23).

“Spirit-given understanding of the true worth of God leads to Spirit-given wisdom.”

So, in Paul’s mind, wisdom and foolishness relate not merely to whether we see things clearly, but whether we make choices or experience preferences that fit reality. If the darkened heart is not illumined by spiritual understanding, then the heart will act foolishly and make the absurd exchange of Romans 1:23, trading away God for something he made. That’s foolish. That’s crazy. And that’s what the lack of wisdom does. Spiritual wisdom would never do that. Spirit-given understanding of the true worth of God leads to Spirit-given wisdom in not making absurd choices that involve treating other things as more valuable than God.

Knowledge of His Will

So, in answer to Kyle’s question, one way to describe the difference between spiritual wisdom and spiritual understanding is that spiritual understanding is the work of the Spirit enabling us to see reality (particularly God and his ways, his will) for what they really are — namely, great and beautiful and valuable and wise — while spiritual wisdom is the effect of that spiritual understanding upon the way we evaluate things, the way we experience preferences in our preferring heart, and the way we make choices that accord with (or not), that are in harmony with (or not), reality and are not the result of our former blindness.

So, when Paul prays in Colossians 1:9 that we would be “filled with the knowledge of his will in [or by] all spiritual wisdom and [spiritual] understanding,” he’s asking God to pour out his Holy Spirit upon us, and that more and more the Spirit would remove our blindness and the dimness of our ability to see God for who he really is. Then, as a fruit of that spiritual understanding, we would have spiritual wisdom that experiences preferences and makes choices that are in harmony with reality. And then, when those two are operating the way they should, we will be filled with the knowledge of God’s will for our daily lives.

Keep seeking a deep intimate relationship with God and He will answer the prayer of Paul not only for the Colossians but for you as well!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith July 15, 2022

Notes of Faith July 15, 2022

Think About What You Think About

Today's inspiration comes from:

Anxious for Nothing

by Max Lucado

In her short thirteen years Rebecca Taylor has endured more than fifty-five surgeries and medical procedures and approximately one thousand days in the hospital.

Christyn, Rebecca’s mom, talks about her daughter’s health complications with the ease of a surgeon. The vocabulary of most moms includes phrases such as “cafeteria food,” “slumber party,” and “too much time on the phone.” Christyn knows this language, but she’s equally fluent in the vernacular of blood cells, stents, and, most recently, a hemorrhagic stroke.

In her blog she wrote:

This past week’s new land mine was the phrase “possible hemorrhagic stroke,” a phrase I heard dozens of times used by numerous physicians. Over and over and over that phrase filled my mind and consumed my thoughts. It was emotionally crippling.

This past Sunday our preacher, Max Lucado, started a very fitting series on anxiety. We reviewed the familiar Philippians 4:6 verse: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

I presented my requests to the Lord as I had so many times before, but this time, THIS time, I needed more. And so, using Philippians 4:8-9 as a guide, I found my answer:

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true…” What was true in my life at this particular moment? The blessing of all family members eating dinner together.

“Whatever is noble.” The blessing of enjoying each other’s presence outside of a hospital room.

“Whatever is right.” The blessing of experiencing my two sons’ daily lives.

“Whatever is pure.” The blessing of all three children laughing and playing with each other.

“Whatever is lovely.” The blessing of watching Rebecca sleep peacefully in her bed at night.

“Whatever is admirable.” The blessing of an honorable team working tirelessly on Rebecca’s care.

“If anything is excellent.” The blessing of watching a miracle unfold.

“Or praiseworthy.” The blessing of worshiping a Lord who is worthy to be praised.

“Think about such things.”

I did. As I meditated on these things, I stopped the dreaded phrase “hemorrhagic stroke” from sucking any joy out of my life. Its power to produce anxiety was now rendered impotent. And when I dwelt on the bountiful blessings in my life happening AT THAT VERY MOMENT, “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,” DID guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus. A true, unexpected miracle. Thank You, Lord.

Did you note what Christyn did? The words hemorrhagic stroke hovered over her life like a thundercloud. Yet she stopped the dreaded phrase from sucking joy out of her life.

She did so by practicing thought management. You probably know this, but in case you don’t, I am so thrilled to give you the good news: you can pick what you ponder.

You didn’t select your birthplace or birth date. You didn’t choose your parents or siblings. You don’t determine the weather or the amount of salt in the ocean. There are many things in life over which you have no choice. But the greatest activity of life is well within your dominion.

You can choose what you think about.

For that reason the wise man urges,

Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life.

— Proverbs 4:23 NCV

Do you want to be happy tomorrow? Then sow seeds of happiness today. (Count blessings. Memorize Bible verses. Pray. Sing hymns. Spend time with encouraging people.) Do you want to guarantee tomorrow’s misery? Then wallow in a mental mud pit of self-pity or guilt or anxiety today. (Assume the worst. Beat yourself up. Rehearse your regrets. Complain to complainers.) Thoughts have consequences.

Healing from anxiety requires healthy thinking. Your challenge is not your challenge. Your challenge is the way you think about your challenge. Your problem is not your problem; it is the way you look at it.

Satan knows this. The devil is always messing with our minds.

He comes as a thief

with the sole intention of stealing and killing and destroying. — John 10:10 Phillips

He brings only gloom and doom. By the time he was finished with Job, the man was sick and alone. By the time he had done his work in Judas, the disciple had given up on life. The devil is to hope what termites are to an oak; he’ll chew you up from the inside.

He will lead you to a sunless place and leave you there. He seeks to convince you this world has no window, no possibility of light. Exaggerated, overstated, inflated, irrational thoughts are the devil’s specialty.

No one will ever love me. It’s all over for me. Everyone is against me. I’ll never lose weight, get out of debt, or have friends.

What lugubrious, monstrous lies!

No problem is unsolvable. No life is irredeemable. No one’s fate is sealed. No one is unloved or unlovable.

No problem is unsolvable

But Satan wants us to think we are. He wants to leave us in a swarm of anxious, negative thoughts.

Satan is the master of deceit. But he is not the master of your mind. You have a power he cannot defeat. You have God on your side.

So

fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. — Philippians 4:8 NLT

The transliteration of the Greek word, here rendered as fix, is logizomai. Do you see the root of an English word in the Greek one? Yes, logic. Paul’s point is simple: anxiety is best faced with clearheaded, logical thinking.

Turns out that our most valuable weapon against anxiety weighs less than three pounds and sits between our ears. Think about what you think about!

Here is how it works. You receive a call from the doctor’s office. The message is simple and unwelcome. “The doctor has reviewed your tests and would like you to come into the office for a consultation.”

As quickly as you can say “uh-oh,” you have a choice: anxiety or trust.

Anxiety says…

“I’m in trouble. Why does God let bad things happen to me? Am I being punished? I must have done something wrong.”

“These things never turn out right. My family has a history of tragedy. It’s my turn. I probably have cancer, arthritis, jaundice. Am I going blind? My eyes have been blurry lately. Is this a brain tumor?”

“Who will raise the kids? Who will pay the medical bills? I’m going to die broke and lonely. I’m too young for this tragedy! No one can understand me or help me.”

If you aren’t already sick, you will be by the time you go to the doctor’s office.

Anxiety weighs down the human heart. — Proverbs 12:25 NRSV

But there is a better way.

Before you call your mom, spouse, neighbor, or friend, call on God. Invite him to speak to the problem.

Capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ.

— 2 Corinthians 10:5 NCV

Slap handcuffs on the culprit, and march it before the One who has all authority: Jesus Christ.

Jesus, this anxious, negative thought just wormed its way into my mind. Is it from You?

Jesus, who speaks nothing but the truth, says, “No, get away from here, Satan.” And as the discerning, sober-minded air traffic controller of your mind, you refuse to let the thought have the time of day.

Lay claim to every biblical promise you can remember, and set out to learn a few more. Grip them for the life preservers they are. Give Satan no quarter. Give his lies no welcome.

Fasten the belt of truth around your waist. — Ephesians 6:14 NRSV

Resist the urge to exaggerate, overstate, or amplify. Focus on the facts, nothing more. The fact is, the doctor has called. The fact is, his news will be good or bad. For all you know, he may want you to be a poster child of good health. All you can do is pray and trust.

So you do. You enter the doctor’s office, not heavied by worry, but buoyed by faith.

Which do you prefer?

Christyn Taylor discovered calmness. Recently she and her family went back to Rebecca’s doctors in Minnesota. Seven months earlier Rebecca was barely surviving. Now, one day before her thirteenth birthday, Rebecca was vibrant and full of life. She had gained a remarkable thirty pounds. Her health was improving. She was named the hospital’s “walking miracle.”

Christyn wrote: “I watched these interactions with a silent sense of awe. It is easy to praise God during seasons of wellness. But it was during my greatest distress when I felt the Lord’s presence poured upon me. And it was in those heartbreaking moments I learned to trust this God who provided unimaginable strength during unimaginable pain.”

He will help you as well, my friend. Guard your thoughts and trust your Father.

Excerpted from Anxious for Nothing by Max Lucado, copyright Max Lucado.

Prov 3:5-6

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

6 In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make straight your paths.

ESV

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith July 13, 2022

Notes of Faith July 13, 2022

The Bible’s Last Words on Earth’s Final Days

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. — Isaiah 41:10

I’m convinced a phenomenal pattern is about to unfold. World events aren’t lurching into chaos; they are moving toward culmination and consummation. There’s hope for tomorrow, and there’s hope for you and yours. The cascading flow of crises is merging with the outlines of Bible prophecy, like two mighty rivers crashing into each other and coalescing into an unstoppable flood. For the children of God, this isn’t a flood that will sweep us away. It will lift us up!

We need this kind of uplifting hope.

Everyone I know seems to have a lot of unexpected stress. Looming over the demanding details of daily life are gathering clouds of worldwide cataclysm. We are living in perilous times. The world has always been in a mess, but not since the days of Noah has our fragile planet faced such imminent and existential dangers as now. The threats — nuclear, economic, technological, philosophical, moral, political, biological, viral, environmental, and a host of others — imperil the earth with calamities of biblical proportions.

God knows exactly what’s going to happen in the future.

He has already painted the picture, and the history of the world is moving along a preordained route toward its total fulfillment. He knows everything to come, which we could never foresee by our own intuition. In the book of Revelation, God lifts the cloth and shows us His plan for tomorrow.

The last half of the very first verse, which sums up the book in one phrase and serves as its statement of purpose, says:

The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place.

The information in Revelation isn’t for the world, which disregards it. It’s for us — for Christ-followers — who value its message and long for our Lord’s appearing. It’s for those who know Jesus as their Savior and who are eager for details about His return. This is information for the saints, for those who realize they are citizens of Heaven traveling through this troubled earth as ambassadors for the King.

Beginning in verse 12, we have the foundational vision of the book — a glimpse of the Lord Jesus Christ as He now appears in all His glory. This was the first time John had seen Jesus since the Lord ascended into Heaven sixty or so years before. John now saw Jesus, enthroned, resplendent in glory and his view of Jesus was heart-stopping:

When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. Then He placed His right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!” — Revelation 1:17–18

God knows exactly what's going to happen in the future

Jesus opened His book of revelations to us by telling us on the first page about the two responses we should have:

don’t be afraid and

remember Jesus died for us and is now alive — forever!

We don’t know what tomorrow’s headlines will bring, nor can we anticipate what will befall us today or tomorrow. But one reality overrides everything else — Jesus is alive, so we needn’t fear. When He rose from the dead, He overcame every challenge, overthrew every enemy, and overturned every affliction. He stripped away any reason for sleepless nights or fretful days. He set the stage for the righteous consummation of all His intentions and paved the way for the new heaven and new earth.

The Lord told John in Revelation 1:19,

Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.

There, amid all your loneliness and uncertainty, your dearest friend, Jesus, makes a special visit in His resurrected and glorified state, and He tells you, in essence, “Don’t be afraid. Remember, I was dead but I’m now alive — and I’m alive forever. Everything will end as I intend, and My intention is to bless you. Let Me give you the details. I’m going to show you what must soon take place. I will unveil the world of tomorrow. I’m going to fill you with hope for the coming days — for both time and eternity.”

Jesus was speaking not only to John but to us as well. We have the book of Revelation — all twenty-two wonderful chapters — because we need its message in times like these. How sad to have this book but not study it. How sad to study it but not understand it. How sad to understand it but not obey it.

On the other hand, how wonderful to trust its message, look forward to its fulfillment, and prepare for the sensational events about to engulf the world and lead us into eternity!

At that moment when all seems lost and the world is engulfed in total chaos, Jesus Christ will return, put a swift end to the battle, and save His people Israel, both spiritually and politically (Revelation 19). He will reign on earth a thousand years from Israel’s capital, Jerusalem. At the end of this period, the unsaved dead will rise to be judged and condemned (Revelation 20).

And finally, at last, Jesus will be with His people forever in the new Heaven, the new earth, and the city of New Jerusalem, where righteousness dwells — and so shall we be with the Lord forever (Revelation 21–22).

Are you ready for these events? Is your family? Are your loved ones?

The final invitation in the Bible says,

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life. — Revelation 22:17

I encourage you with all my heart to come to Jesus today. Take His free gift of eternal blessings and an everlasting inheritance. In prayer, confess your sins and be willing to turn from all that’s evil and unhealthy in your life by God’s grace and with His strength. Acknowledge Jesus Christ as your living Savior, and give your life to Him today.

And don’t be afraid of the world tomorrow. God’s grace is aggressive, available, and immeasurable. His plans are outlined in His Word. His love is everlasting, and His truth endures forever. He loves you more than you know, and He is eager to be your Savior and your Sovereign forever.

We have so much ahead of us — an inheritance unending, a life everlasting! Don’t look around you and be distressed. Look ahead and be blessed!

Hallelujah! Maranatha!

He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Lord Jesus, thank You that I don’t need to be afraid of the future. Your sacrifice and Your grace secure my place in eternity.

Written for Devotionals Daily by Robert J. Morgan, 50 Final Events in World History.

We watch, we wait, we live for Jesus until He comes. Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith July 12, 2022

Notes of Faith July 12, 2022

Everything is Spiritual

So, you have a calling. There’s someone God made you to be. Something God made you to do. All you have to do is dig it out from under the rubble of your fear and insecurity and upbringing and culture and consciousness. It’s there. Waiting to be found.

But I know what some of you are thinking, Really? I know that God calls people to church stuff, but I’m an IT specialist for a cell-phone company — how is that a calling from God?

To get to a robust, deep, rich, charged theology of work, and for that matter, rest, we have to cross the chasm that is the sacred/secular divide.

And I forewarn you; it is a deep, wide, ominous chasm. So put your boots on…

The sacred/secular divide is this erroneous idea that some things are sacred or spiritual, and they matter to God; but other things are secular or physical, and by implication, they don’t matter to God, at least, not all that much.

The problem with this widespread, ubiquitous, domineering, destructive way of thinking is that, well, by this definition, most of life is secular.

The sacred stuff is a dinky slice of the pie — going to church, praying, reading the Scriptures, evangelism. What is that, 5% of our lives? Max? If you’re really “spiritual”?

Most of life — the other 95% — is spent grocery shopping or walking the dog or cutting your toenails or reading at the park or doing yoga with your wife or eating a burrito and then feeling bloated afterward — but less so if you just finished doing yoga.

This is the stuff of everyday life.

And so most of us feel a little bit frustrated because we think that what we do every day — our work and our rest — how we play and unwind and enjoy God’s world — is meaningless and pointless and ephemeral and doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of heaven and hell and eternal life because it’s not sacred.

Everything matters to God

So much of life is just mundane. There’s nothing glamorous about it. We don’t feel like we’re changing the world; we’re changing diapers or answering emails or tweaking an Excel spreadsheet. So we feel frustrated, or maybe even empty and aimless, because every night as we lie in bed, we think, Does any of this matter?

Or we feel a twinge of guilt because even though our job as an IT specialist isn’t sacred, we really enjoy it and are proud of what we do. And every time we come home from work and drink a glass of really good wine or watch a great film or eat a delicious meal, we feel this nagging sense of shame because we enjoy it so much — it feels good and right and earthy and human — but it’s not “spiritual.”

This entire paradigm of the sacred and the so-called secular is seriously out of whack. And not only is it untrue, but it’s also dangerous. Let me make my point…

To start off, let’s talk about the word spiritual. It’s one of those words we use all the time, but as a wise Spaniard with a sweet mustache once said, “I don’t think it means what you think it means.” (That was my mandatory Princess Bride quote.)

Did you know there’s no word for spiritual in the Hebrew language? Hebrew is the language of the first three quarters of the Bible — what we call the Old Testament. Look up the word spiritual in Genesis to Malachi — the Bible used by Jesus. It’s not there. Why? Because in a Hebrew worldview, all of life is spiritual.

Even when you get to the New Testament, the word spiritual is really only used by Paul. In his writings it means “animated by the Holy Spirit.” And for Paul, every facet of our life should be spiritual.

1. I think if you had asked Jesus about His spiritual life, He would have looked at you very confused. My guess is He would have asked, What do you mean by My spiritual life? You mean My life? All of My life is spiritual.

Jesus didn’t buy into sacred/secular thinking. Not one bit. To Him, the God He called Father is as close as the air up against our skin. To Him, life is a seamless, integrated, holistic experience where the sacred is all around us. And for Jesus and His way, God wants to be involved in every square inch of our lives.

2. Because everything is spiritual. Everything matters to God.

The word pnuematikos, or “spiritual,” does show up in the New Testament, mostly in the writings of Paul. But it’s not used how most of us use it. Most people think spiritual means esoteric, immaterial, otherworldly, enigmatic or deep, mystic experiences with God. But in Paul’s theology it means “animated by the Spirit of God.” It’s from the root word pneuma, where we get the word pneumatic. It’s this driving, empowering presence in us to do what we’re called to do — on Earth. It has nothing to do with material/immaterial. That’s why in 1 Corinthians 2 he puts all humans into two categories. The “spiritual” are all followers of Jesus who have His Spirit; everybody else is not spiritual. Fascinating.

* This language comes from the Everything Is Spiritual tour DVD by Rob Bell (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2007).

Adapated from Garden City: Work, Rest, And The Art Of Being Human by John Mark Comer, copyright John Mark Comer, published by Zondervan.

Life is indeed spiritual, from eternity past to eternity future. This earthly existence is part of our LIFE! We, believers, and followers of Christ, are to be like Him, in communion with God at all times . . . THAT is living a true spiritual life. Let’s pursue that life, for it is who we are.

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith July 11, 2022

The Best Medicine

A happy heart is like good medicine. — Proverbs 17:22 ICB

Whether you giggle, tee-hee, or guffaw, laughter is one language that everybody speaks. You don’t have to learn to laugh either. It’s a skill you’re born with. Babies start to laugh when they’re only about three months old — long before they learn to say mama or dada.

Real laughter is one of those things that just happens. Something seems funny, and before you can even think That’s funny, your brain has you laughing. But you can’t make yourself really laugh. (Go ahead, give it a try.) Laughter is also contagious. If you hear someone laughing, chances are, you’ll soon be laughing too. Some people even claim laughter can heal you — like medicine. Scientists aren’t sure about that, but we do know that laughter is fun, helps you make friends, and makes you feel good inside.

Laughter is a gift from God.

It heals our heart and gives us joy. God even tells us there is a time to laugh (Ecclesiastes 3:4). But there’s a huge difference between laughing with someone and laughing at someone. Don’t use laughter like a weapon to hurt others or to tear them down. Always try to treat others the way you want them to treat you (Luke 6:31) — and nobody likes to be laughed at!

Laughter is a gift from God

Laughter is a gift, and it’s meant to be shared. A funny story and a good laugh might be just the medicine a friend needs during a tough day. Remember, words and actions — yes, even laughter — should always be loving and kind… and that’s nothing to joke about!

Lord, thank You for the gift of laughter. Help me to use it in a way that makes You smile and brings the joy You’ve given me to others.

There’s nothing like a tickle fight to get the laughter and giggles going. But here’s a question: Can you tickle yourself? As it turns out, the answer is no. A big part of the reason you laugh when tickled is because you’re surprised. If you try to tickle yourself, your brain knows what’s coming. You’re not surprised, so you’re not tickled!

Excerpted permission from How Great Is Our God by Louie Giglio, copyright Louie Giglio.

No joke needed. Look at children. You will smile, laugh, giggle and enjoy whatever it seems brings them happiness. Start your day with a good laugh with God.

Pastor Dale